The Popular Girl Mocked My Weight, Until I Became a Total Knockout Chapter 09

The Popular Girl Mocked My Weight, Until I Became a Total Knockout Chapter 09

Derek turned at the sound of his name and walked over.

Seeing Brittany stirred something complicated in his chest.

Over the summer, she’d been incredibly warm toward him, even saying she’d had a crush on him

for years.

And he’d fallen for it. What guy wouldn’t want a beautiful girlfriend?

After three years of high school pressure, the sudden freedom made him reckless.

So he’d gone along when she asked him to get close to Emma.

But after he’d shoved Emma at the gym, regret had hit him like a wave.

He remembered every dinner at her house. Her parents’ warm smiles. The birthday when she’d knocked on his door with a tiny lit cake behind her back, the only person who’d remembered.

Everyone else kept their distance because of his cold, aloof attitude. Only Emma had ever tried to

reach him.

He’d spent days hating himself after that gym incident. He’d gone to apologize, only to find she’d already left for Lake Pines.

She never replied to his texts.

Then he saw the group chat yesterday. He’d finally decided to come find her, to say sorry

face-to-face.

As for Brittany, after school started, she’d cooled off fast. In hindsight, she’d never really liked him. She’d only used him to hurt Emma.

As he approached, Brittany grabbed his arm with practiced intimacy, as if the past few days of cold silence had never happened.

Derek felt a flash of discomfort. “Where’s Emma?” he asked.

Brittany’s smile froze. “You came to see me, didn’t you?”

When his eyes kept scanning the distance, panic flickered across her face. She tugged his arm, trying to steer him away.

“Emma’s resting. You know how she is, wipes out after five minutes of exercise. That pig’s still a

pig…”

Brittany had seen the group chat. She knew if Derek saw Emma now, and posted a photo, she’d become the biggest joke.

No way. Absolutely not.

They’d barely taken a few steps when she saw me coming from the opposite direction.

She stopped dead. Whirled around.

But Derek was rooted to the spot.

“Ha… haha… Derek? What’s wrong?”

“That girl…” Derek was staring straight at me.

Something stirred in his chest. She looked familiar.

But she was so beautiful, he had no memory of anyone that pretty.

I felt his gaze and turned. Our eyes met.

After a moment’s hesitation, I gave him a small wave.

Derek blinked. His pupils dilated. He walked toward me, almost unsteady.

Stopping in front of me, his voice cracked. “You… you’re… Emma Carlson?”